Autumn, Portrait of Lydia Cassatt

Tomorrow is the birthday of Mary Cassatt, one of the most important Impressionist artists and the only American artist in the circle. Mary came to France for her studies in 1866 before settling there permanently in 1873. Her sister Lydia Cassatt (presented in this portrait) joined her in 1877. They stayed together in Marly-le-Roi during the summer of 1880 and until mid-October. The painting was presented at the Sixth Impressionist exhibition in 1881, under the title Autumn. In fragile health, Lydia died prematurely the following year. Thus, when Mary Cassatt donated the painting to the Petit Palais, she gave it the title Portrait of a Woman.

Mary Cassatt often created images of the social and private lives of women, with particular emphasis on the intimate bonds between mothers and children. She was also a huge friend of Edgar Degas. If you would like to learn more about her and her fellow Impressionists, don't miss our Mega Impressionist Course (it's really cool).

P.S. Here's an amazing Mary Cassatt’s feminist mural that sadly has gone lost ...

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